Edinburgh Part 1: Harry Potter

Sometimes I have such an epically good time doing something that instead of it making great blog fodder I just can’t think of how to talk about it at all.

I spent about a week in Edinburgh, Scotland for New Years and it was one of my favorite trips ever. I fell in love with that city, maybe in part because it reminded me of the best of Salzburg, but on its own merit too. I am so indebted to my friend Haley for inviting me and being just about the best host ever. I had so many laughs with her and I have about a boatful of hilarious and wonderful memories from our week together. It was really good to be around a closer friend again so I could be myself…even if I may have overwhelmed her a little (read: a lot).

I’m going to split my recap into a few posts because there’s just so much to say/show. Naturally, I thought I’d start with…

Harry [James] Potter.

If you don’t know of my deep love and devotion to the Harry Potter series you don’t know me at all. Harry and I have been together since December of 1999. On the free tour of Edinburgh that Hales and I took the tour guide asked who was a Harry Potter fan, and while other tourists timidly raised their hand I shot my hand up and yelled “ME!” I have many guilty pleasures, but I will never be ashamed to pronounce myself a Harry Potter fanatic…even if others think I should be.

So if you don’t know, Jo Rowling was living in Edinburgh when she started penning Harry Potter. This means the city is full of things that are rumored to have inspired parts of the books. You better believe I was in dork heaven. I usually try not to be so touristy when I travel but I had to soak up the Harry Potter culture.

Our delightful tour guide Izzy shared lots of Harry Potter rumors with us. We went into Greyfriars Cemetery where she pointed out a private school seen through the back gates that has four impressive towers. Some people wonder if it inspired the four Howarts houses. In Greyfriars there is also a tombstone with both a father and son Tom Riddell…perhaps Tom Riddle? I like to think so.

{This was our epic to-do list for the trip. I love that list.}

The Elephant House is a café in Edinburgh where JK wrote a lot of the first few books. Yes, I know, how touristy to go there (twice)! But in my defense I also LOVE a good café and I would have loved this place if it hadn’t been connected with Rowling. It features elephant décor and themed elements everywhere—paintings, pictures, books, chairs, figurines, etc. I love elephants! Oh extra cool fact: Right before I left for my holiday trips I received an incredible package from my Aunt Patti containing a shirt from The Elephant House (as well as many other splendid gifts)! I love the design on the front: an elephant holding a tea cup. Everyone who reads my blog should also be aware of how obsessively I drink tea.

If you’re a girl and you ever go to The Elephant House and you’re a fan—which you are right?—make sure to use the bathroom, first stall on the right.

The door is completely graffitied with peoples tributes to the beloved series. I didn’t read all of it obviously but I was happy that from what I saw there was nothing negative on the door. Lots of notes to Jo about how she changed lives and some funny comments like “I’d go sleezy for Weezy.”

I have never graffitied before in my life, but I had to leave my mark. If you ever go, see if you can find my little addition to the door. *wink* Normally, I would’ve said something about how Harry & Hermione should be together, but don’t worry, that was already covered:

{Ditto to this. But not my addition.}

I loved the atmosphere in The Elephant House and their gingerbread latte was delicious. To think JK Rowling might have written at this table…

The back room is definitely the place to be because there is an excellent view of the Castle. I failed at taking pictures through the window, but I kind of like the way this one turned out with the reflection of the inside and a partial view of the Castle outside. I promise if you squint it’s there.

Thank you so much, Haley, for humoring my need to do every cliche Harry Potter thing there was to do. It made all my fangirl dreams come true.

Alright, now that that’s out of the way I promise not to mention Mr. Potter in my next post.

P.S.: Haley also went with me to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1! I didn’t think I’d be able to see it ‘til I was back in the States so I was so excited to get to see it AND in Scotland. I know it’s old news for everyone else now, but I did really like it even if I found that, despite its length, it ended too soon. It’s sort of an awkward viewing experience, I think, for anyone who’s read the books and knows there is so much more to come. It felt like it stopped abruptly in the middle….you know, ‘cause it did. The cinematography and scenery in the film were beautiful and I thought both Emma and Rupert stepped up their acting and improved once again. I was pleased. I will look forward to seeing the last one on time with everyone else!